Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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651. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the availability and use of capital support programmes under his Department for rural settlements like Bonmahon that are excluded from Uisce Éireann’s current investment plans; and if he will make a statement on the implications for community sustainability and regional balance. [23303/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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675. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps being taken to support rural communities like Bonmahon, County Waterford, where the absence of wastewater infrastructure is preventing new housing development, business investment, and tourism growth. [23295/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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676. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has received any representations from Waterford City and County Council or Uisce Éireann regarding the need for a wastewater treatment facility in Bonmahon, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23296/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 651, 675 and 676 together.

The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges faced by rural dwellers with their water services. Under the MARWP there is one specific measure that is providing funding to local authorities for projects to address the wastewater collection and treatment needs for villages and settlements not currently served by Uisce Éireann. In December 2023, more than €45 million of funding was approved in principle for issue to five local authorities for projects under this measure.

The Programme for Government also supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme (STVGP), which will provide growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan.

An allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Uisce Éireann is working with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans. The STVGP was launched in summer 2021, and to date, 39 projects have been confirmed to be delivered through the programme nationally.

The Programme for Government also commits to investing additional capital in Uisce Éireann to support reaching our new housing targets. They will prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages. This additional funding will be considered as part of the NDP review which is due to be completed in the middle of this year.

It is important to note that the delivery of capital projects is not dependent solely on funding and resources. Uisce Éireann must comply with the planning and consenting regime and as a body in receipt of public funding, with the relevant requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. While Uisce Éireann allocates the necessary funding and resources to projects, it takes on average around 5-7 years to bring a wastewater project through from selection to completion.

Uisce Éireann continues to work with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans. The utility provides regular STVGP updates on it's website, which includes a list of the projects and their status -

www.water.ie/projects/national-projects/small-towns-villages-growth-programme

Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects or areas is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. It is not the practice at Uisce Éireann to send correspondence to me regarding specific projects or areas, and no such correspondence has been received.

Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.